Optim LLC, a maker of optical imaging tools, has acquired a small startup called Precision Endoscopic Technologies. The acquisition will allow Optim to expand into the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Precision makes a patented infrared coagulation system for the treatment of hemorrhoids. Precision Endoscopic Technologies LLC will become a division of Optim and will share Optim's headquarters at 64 Technology Park Road in Sturbridge.
Optim said the acquisition will allow it to transition from a purely diagnostic endoscope company to a company that provides both diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic capabilities.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
“With over 4 million new cases of hemorrhoids reported each year, we believe that Precision will lead the way in providing a better quality of life for those suffering from this often painful condition,” Optim President Thomas V. Root said in a news release.
Lisa Skowyra, marketing associate at Optim, said Optim plans to market and sell Precision's hemorrhoid treatment system. She said Precision has about two employees, who will move to Sturbridge. One of them is Dr. Michael Epstein of Annapolis, Md., who invented the Precision system.
Sturbridge-based Optim, which is privately held, has about 55 employees.
2011年10月27日星期四
2011年9月27日星期二
24 Hours in the ER First Look
Synopsis: Every day 60,000 people walk into an ER department in the UK. Around 350 of them are treated at King’s College Hospital, London. With a staff of 140, it is one of the busiest ER departments in the country. The hospital is a major trauma centre, which means it sees some of the most serious cases in London, ranging from stabbings and shootings to car crashes and major accidents. But it’s also a community hospital with its fair share of boils, cut fingers, hemorrhoids and splinters.
With unprecedented access to the hospital, the production team rigged over 14 miles of camera cable with 70 remote cameras strategically placed around its major trauma department. The installation had to cause the minimum disruption to patients and staff. Filming took place 24 hours a day for 28 days, capturing 4200 hours of footage. One hundred and sixty-eight people worked on the production team. The result is a raw, revealing and captivating narrative that captures life in the trauma ward, from the perspective of both patients and the medical staff, in a way that has never been done before.
With unprecedented access to the hospital, the production team rigged over 14 miles of camera cable with 70 remote cameras strategically placed around its major trauma department. The installation had to cause the minimum disruption to patients and staff. Filming took place 24 hours a day for 28 days, capturing 4200 hours of footage. One hundred and sixty-eight people worked on the production team. The result is a raw, revealing and captivating narrative that captures life in the trauma ward, from the perspective of both patients and the medical staff, in a way that has never been done before.
2011年5月25日星期三
Dr. Gott Fighting constipation
Dear Dr. Gott: I was so happy to see your colon-cocktail ingredients in print, as I have a real problem with constipation. Do you have other ways to stop this annoyance?
Dear Reader: The gastrointestinal tract slows as we age, with dietary and lifestyle changes often being to blame. For example, it is often far easier to eat a frozen dinner or a prepared meal that may be nutritious but that may lack the necessary fiber to keep you regular. Or your previous, faster pace of daily living might be slowed, so you don’t exercise as much as you once did. Both scenarios can lead to constipation. Perhaps a diet that includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains and unprocessed bran, an increase in the amount of fluids you consume daily and moderate exercise will get you back on track quickly. Try to consume between 20 and 35 grams of fiber each day, but begin slowly. You may find a piece of fruit each day is sufficient to keep you regular. To overdo it too quickly is to turn constipation into diarrhea, and you don’t want that to happen. Be sure to avoid foods high in sugar and fat, such as ice cream and cheese, that can aggravate constipation.
Be sure to take sufficient time when you feel the urge to defecate. Being rushed and thinking you may be forced to strain will definitely have a negative impact on the result. The longer you delay, the more water will be absorbed from your stool, and the harder it becomes.
If your problem persists, visit your physician or a gastroenterologist to ensure nothing else, such as a blockage, is going on. Have you had any testing along those lines? For example, noninvasive procedures are available to determine how well food passes through the digestive system. You might choose to speak with your physician about them.
While you don’t mention any medical issues in your brief letter, you could have undiagnosed irritable bowel syndrome, might be overusing laxatives, have diverticulosis, be on specific medications such as those to combat hypertension and depression, or you may have hypothyroidism or hemorrhoids. The possibilities are almost limitless.
For the record, my colon cocktail may take up to two weeks to become fully effective, so you might wish to do it on a permanent basis. Beyond that, consider drinking 4 ounces of warm prune or apple juice daily. You also might do well with a simple stool softener, fiber supplement or an osmotic to help fluids move through your colon. There are several over-the-counter products such as magnesium citrate that might do the trick. I’m sure that your local pharmacy will have a large supply from which to choose. You might even ask your pharmacist his or her opinion regarding which product might meet your needs best.
Avoid using laxatives on a regular basis. Habitual use of them can cause the colon to become dependent. As with any drug, even over-the-counter ones, their use can involve increasing the dosage time after time until the colon relies completely on an outside source to allow it to function. Laxatives should be taken only under a physician’s supervision.
Dear Reader: The gastrointestinal tract slows as we age, with dietary and lifestyle changes often being to blame. For example, it is often far easier to eat a frozen dinner or a prepared meal that may be nutritious but that may lack the necessary fiber to keep you regular. Or your previous, faster pace of daily living might be slowed, so you don’t exercise as much as you once did. Both scenarios can lead to constipation. Perhaps a diet that includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains and unprocessed bran, an increase in the amount of fluids you consume daily and moderate exercise will get you back on track quickly. Try to consume between 20 and 35 grams of fiber each day, but begin slowly. You may find a piece of fruit each day is sufficient to keep you regular. To overdo it too quickly is to turn constipation into diarrhea, and you don’t want that to happen. Be sure to avoid foods high in sugar and fat, such as ice cream and cheese, that can aggravate constipation.
Be sure to take sufficient time when you feel the urge to defecate. Being rushed and thinking you may be forced to strain will definitely have a negative impact on the result. The longer you delay, the more water will be absorbed from your stool, and the harder it becomes.
If your problem persists, visit your physician or a gastroenterologist to ensure nothing else, such as a blockage, is going on. Have you had any testing along those lines? For example, noninvasive procedures are available to determine how well food passes through the digestive system. You might choose to speak with your physician about them.
While you don’t mention any medical issues in your brief letter, you could have undiagnosed irritable bowel syndrome, might be overusing laxatives, have diverticulosis, be on specific medications such as those to combat hypertension and depression, or you may have hypothyroidism or hemorrhoids. The possibilities are almost limitless.
For the record, my colon cocktail may take up to two weeks to become fully effective, so you might wish to do it on a permanent basis. Beyond that, consider drinking 4 ounces of warm prune or apple juice daily. You also might do well with a simple stool softener, fiber supplement or an osmotic to help fluids move through your colon. There are several over-the-counter products such as magnesium citrate that might do the trick. I’m sure that your local pharmacy will have a large supply from which to choose. You might even ask your pharmacist his or her opinion regarding which product might meet your needs best.
Avoid using laxatives on a regular basis. Habitual use of them can cause the colon to become dependent. As with any drug, even over-the-counter ones, their use can involve increasing the dosage time after time until the colon relies completely on an outside source to allow it to function. Laxatives should be taken only under a physician’s supervision.
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